Mato Grosso is a ghost village, inhabitated only 8 days

per year, from August 12th to August 20th,

during the celebration of Nossa Senhora das Dores

 (Our Lady of  Pain).

It is located on top of a hill, and people from a village nearby simply move to this area to fully enjoy the religious festival. When it is over, the houses are abandoned for one year.

I could feel blind eyes following me from behind the locked windows.  I don't believe in ghosts, but they were there, as tangible as the silence that surrounded the whole village.

Mato Grosso,

Minas Gerais

August 23th 2009